To be honest, there is no definite answer to this question. Real estate photographers will depend on their clients’ expectation and the norm in the area when it comes to the number of images they will provide for a particular listing. Surely, we can round it up according to the marketing requirements and the time available for the shoot and post-production. Here are a few factors to consider when it comes to the marketing requirements.
How Many Photos Do You Need to Take?
This is an easy one. To be honest, a Real Estate Listing only needs one photo in order to be listed. But the key thing to keep in mind is the number of minimum images to communicate the key features of the home or of a particular space. Having said that, you can take this as a good rule of thumb: one photo for every small space, two photos if it is a large space, and then three to five exterior shots.
For the exterior photos, take three photos where the structure, or the building, fills most of the frame. This will be very useful when the thumbnail images for an online site require small images. Also, take two photos that show the yard and the home itself.
When it comes to the interior, take a photo of each main floor; two photos for the kitchen, the living rooms, and the master bedroom.
Another Important Factor to Consider: Potential Buyers
The end justifies the means. Always keep in mind that real estate photos’ purpose is to provide potential buyers the information that is going to interest them and will want them to look further. Every property is unique so it will always depend on your eye and your client’s opinion. With this in mind, you will then need to take extra pictures in the home like countertops, special equipment, outdoor kitchen, sink faucets, etc. These kinds of photos will add more marketing appeal to a listing and help it stand out from its competitions.
Wait, What If You’ve Taken Too Much?
This is a rookie mistake in the industry. Many may think that it is always good to provide as many photos as possible. But a huge amount of photographs for a particular home may be overwhelming to potential buyers. As you know, images are displayed in a slideshow, or a carousel in some websites, in a sequence. If there are too many photos, it may take very long for a buyer to move from one space to another. Thus, making it difficult for them to pinpoint the information that they are actually looking for. To avoid such problems, it’s a good idea to talk to your client about their expectations before the shoot. Remember, a good number of high-quality images is better to have than a lot of low-quality ones.
Avoid Duplicates
It may be common sense already but it needs to be mentioned. This is an easy mistake to commit going blind into the business. Taking photos that are similar to each other wastes effort and is unnecessary. Instead, capture the space in its entirety with a wide angle lens.
So, Really, How Many Photos Should You Take?
As we said, there is no exact number for this. For example, for an average 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, perhaps around 1500 to 2000 square feet, would usually need 25-30 photos. This provides a good balance between quality and quantity. If the property is bigger and has more space, more images will be required. So on and so forth.
Every property is unique and there will always be expectations. DMD’s best practice when it comes to any project is to have clear expectations set up with our clients, the amount of photos they need and the key features to highlight in their listings. We have been in the business for too long enough to provide an experience that only keeps better with age.